ESSENDON is ramping up its legal firepower as new chairman Paul Little prepares to launch a staunch defence of his club.
In a video message to Bombers members on Monday the former Toll Holdings executive explained the club was preparing to receive ASADA's findings in the coming fortnight.
"I can confirm that we are ramping up both our legal advisory input and also our PR input to make sure that the club is represented in the best possible way," Little said on Monday night.
Little said the board didn't need to alter its course, despite the departure of chairman David Evans on Saturday.
"We can't and nor do we need to change any of the strategies that are in place," Little said.
"The board and the club remain very united about how we should approach the challenges of the investigation that we currently have in front of us."
Earlier, Little has backed under-fire coach James Hird to lead the Bombers into this year's finals series.
Little's appointment was ratified at a board meeting on Monday morning, with finance director Paul Brasher elected deputy chairman.
He used his first public appearance to heap support on Hird, and reaffirm the club's view the fourth-placed Bombers would be playing in this year's finals.
"James Hird has also got not only my full and complete support but the board's full support and we look forward to James taking us into a successful finals campaign," Little said.
AFL statement: Fitzpatrick congratulates Little
Hird last week said the club was "very confident" it would be free to play in this year's finals series.
Little said he expected the ASADA report will give the Bombers the chance to defend themselves.
"The ASADA report, we understand, will be made available to the club within the next week or two and we look forward to the opportunity of being able to use this report to answer a lot of the allegations and concerns that have been voiced in relation to the Essendon Football Club," Little said.
Little was deputychairman to David Evans before Evans announced his resignation on Saturday. Herecognised Evans' contribution when accepting the role.
"I'm very honoured and privileged to be elected aschairman of the Essendon Football Club," Little said in a clubstatement.
"I'd like to pay tribute to the leadership and character of David Evans,who has played a significant role in guiding the club through a very difficulttime.
"David Evans leaves an enormous legacy on the Essendon Football Club and Iknow at the appropriate time he will be recognised and acknowledged by the clubfor his incredible passion, loyalty and service."
"David is not lost to the Essendon family and I know he will be back atthe club very soon."
Little joined theboard in 2011 and took on the role of chairman of the fundraising working groupfor the club's new elite training and administration facility at MelbourneAirport.
In his resignation statement on Saturday evening, Evanspointed to Little as among the people to lead the club out of its crisis.
"What is happening at our club right now is a tragedy,but I know that it will survive," Evans said.
"I believe in the Essendon Football Club and its peopleand it will get through this crisis with people like Paul Little, James Hirdand Ray Gunston as its leaders."
Little wasmanaging director of Toll Holdings from 1986 to 2011 and is still a director ofthe company.
Callum Twomey is a reporter for the AFL website.Follow him on Twitter at @AFL_CalTwomey.
